Check Constraint vs. Foreign Key Constraint

My question has to do with (1)which method is faster and (2)which method better adheres to good database design.

This is my dilemma. I can't decide which method is better. For example, in the Vendors table, I can have either 4 or 5 CHECK constraints or I can create 4 or 5 tables and use Foreign Key relationships to restrict data entry. Each vendor is either a "Manufacturer" or a "Distributor". For the field VendorType, would it be better to write a check constraint ensuring the type to be entered as "Manufacturer" or "Distributor" or should I create a new table called VendorTypes and add two columns, TypeID and TypeDescription, and check the field using a Foreign Key relationship?

What are your thoughts on the CHECK CONSTRAINT versus FOREIGN KEY entity relationship?

Thanks for any input.

J Lowry Snow Received on Mon Aug 06 2001 - 12:18:06 CDT